Suction cup novelty



Nov. 2a 1939.. s. s. ADAMS 2,181,113

SUCTION CUP NOVELTY Filed Aug. 31, 1938 1,1,1", III'III'I."

W E 7 UR 301 627 3 vfaams.

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Patented Nov. 28, 1939 'l" GHQ SUCTEON CUP NOVELTY Soren S. Adams,

Application August 31,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a suction cup and a suction cup novelty or mechanism, and more particularly to a spring-impelled device having a suction cup spring release.

Many forms of novelties are known in theprior art in which a loaded self-contained spring is arranged to impel or impart sudden movement thereto. The entertainment and educational value of the novelty depends, of course, upon the element of surprise, and to this end the spring is loaded or cooked and is held in this conditionby a time-delay spring release. A short time after the spring has been loaded or cooked, the spring is released and the novelty will leap forl wardly or upwardly, depending upon the design and character of the spring. The usual form of time-delay spring release known in the prior art is a friction type release such, for example, as may be provided by a rubber finger which is frictionally held between a pair of spaced resilient metal fingers against the spring-biasing action of the impelling spring.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved novelty.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved novelty of the spring-impelled type having a suction cup spring release.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel suction cup time-delay mechanism. Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel suction cup and method of making the same.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a device having a spring thereon arranged to impart sudden movement thereto upon release of the spring, and having a novel suction cup time-delay release mechanism for triggering the spring a short time after the spring has been loaded or cooked.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a bottom View of a sheet metal leaping frog having an impelling spring and a suction cup release;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of the metal frog taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the suc- Asbury Park, N. J.

1938, Serial'No. 227,669

tion cup of Figures 1 and 2 and shows how the underside of the suction cup may be slightly scored to decrease the time-delay period;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of a specially constructed match-box having an impelling spring thereon and a suction cup time-delay spring re lease;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View, partly'in cross section, of the match-box of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an isometric View, partly in cross section, of an object having a spiral spring impeller and a suction cup time-delay spring release on the under surface thereof;

Figure 7 is an isometric view, partly in cross section, of a plate or the like having a lifting spring and a suction cup time-delay spring release disposed below the under surface thereof and separated therefrom, the suction cup in this modification being arranged to engage the surface upon which the object is rested;

Figure 8 is a view of the underside of a suction cup'of the general type shown in Figure 7 but illustrates how the suction cup may be scored to decrease the time-delay period;

Figure 9 illustrates a metal strip, a flat rubber disk, and a rivet which are to be assembled together to form a suction cup on the metal strip; and

Figure 10 shows the elements of Figure 9 assembled together, the act of riveting the rubber disk to the metal strip causing a distortion of the rubber disk to form a suction cup.

From a cursory inspection of the various figures of the drawing, it will be observed that one of the cardinal features of the present invention is the provision of a suction cup time-delay spring release on objects which are designed to be given sudden movement upon the release of a spring. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the present invention wherein a suction cup time-delay spring release mechanism is employed on a sheet metal leaping frog. More particularly, Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a sheet metal frog ll which is in the form of a sheet metal stamping, the upper surface of which is provided With a configuration simulating a frog about to jump or leap. The upper surface of the frog Il may be painted in any suitable manner to give the external appearance of a frog.

Secured to'the underside of the frog l I is a r bracket I2. The rear end of the bracket i2 is provided with a fiat circular or disk portion 13, and the forward end of the bracket i2, is slotted and provided with a pair of spaced raised portions M. The bracket l2 may be secured to the underside of the frog H in any suitable manner such, for example, as by a plurality of small rivets l5. A wire spring l6 having a coiled intermediate portion l'i, a base portion i8 and an opposite end portion i9 is provided to cause the frog H to leap forwardly and upwardly when the end portion [9 is released. The spring it is secured to the under side of the frog by inserting the base portion l8 through the spaced raised portions l4 provided in the bracket i2. It will of course be understood that the spring it may be secured to the bracket in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Secured to the rear end of portion E9 of spring I6 is a suction cup 20. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the suction cup 20 is secured to the end of spring portion W by means of a special rivet 2! having an enlarged head 22 which is apertured for reception of the end of the spring E5. The end 22 of the rivet 2! is preferably firmly secured to the spring portion l9 by soldering or the like.

The spring iii in its normal free position is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. To load or cook the spring it, the end portion 59 of the spring i6 is moved upwardly from its dottedline position in Figure 2 to its full-line position in Figure 2. As the spring portion i9 is brought into close proximity to the underside of the frog H, the suction cup is pressed tightly against the disk portion [3, thereby establishing a partial vacuum between the cup 2% and the disk l3. This vacuum or suction action tightly holds the spring portion l9 in its position as shown by the full lines in Figure 2. The only way in which the suction cup 20 will release its grip on the disk i3 is by air leakage into the space between the suction cup 29 and the disk l3. That is to say, the suction cup 26 will hold the spring portion id in the position shown by the full lines in Figure 2 until the spring force of the spring it is sufficient to pull the suction cup 20 away from the disk l3. At this time the spring l6 will snap open and throw the sheet metal frog ll upwardly and forwardly.

The time which it takes the suction cup 29 to release may be controlled by controlling the smoothness of the under surface of the disk l3. Where the surface of the disk i3 is very smooth, the rate of air leakage into the space between the suction cup Zil'and the disk I3 is very slow and the time-delay period is consequently long. Where the surface of the disk i3 is slightly scratched or scored, such as is generally the case with an unpolished piece of metal, the time-delay is short. It will of course be understood that if the surface of the disk 53 is too rough or irregular no partial vacuum can be created in the space between the suction cup 2i! and the disk 93.

In a novelty of the character illustrated in Figures l and 2, it has generally been found desirable to provide a time-delay period of from five to ten seconds. Either a greater or less time-delay period may of course be provided as desired. One method of providing the desired amount of air leakage into the space between the suction cup 20 and the disk i3 is to provide the disk l3 with a relatively smooth surface and then to slightly score the same as at 23 in Figure l. The scorings 23 are preferably in the nature of slight scratchings on the smooth surface of the disk l3. The depth of the scratches, and the number, will of course be governed by the length of the timedelay period desired.

In Figure 3 of the drawing I have shown a slight modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 wherein the under surface of the rubber forming the suction cup 20 is slightly scored as at 2 rather than scoring the surface of the disk l3.

In Figures 4 and of the drawing I have illustrated a different embodiment of the present invention wherein a leaf spring 25 is secured to a match-box 26 which is arranged to make the match-box 26 leap upwardly off the surface upon which it is resting. The match-box 26 includes an outer shell 27 and an inner sliding block of wood 28 which simulates the usual interior box portion of a match-box. Pasteboard end partitions 29 may be provided to conceal the nature of the interior of the match-box 26. The bottom of the sliding block 28 is recessed as at 30 and a sheet metal plate 3! is secured to the block 28 within the recess 30. One end of the metal plate 3-! is bent around the end of the leaf spring 25 as at 32. fhe plate ti and the spring 25 are there after nailed to the block 28 as at 33. The opposite end of the plate 3! is also nailed to the block as at 34.

A. suction cup 35 is mounted on the free end of the spring 25 and is disposed and arranged to engage the plate 3i to hold the spring 25 in its cooked or energized position for a predetermined length of time. As is clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawing, the base of the shell 21 is out out as at 36 to permit the spring 25 to snap therethrough when it is released by the suction cup 35.

The suction cup time-delay release provided by the structure illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 operates on the same principle as that described in connection with Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. That is to say, the length of the time-delay period may be determined by controlling the smoothness of the under surface of the plate 3 I, it preferably being scored or scratched to provide a time delay of approximately five to ten seconds.

In Figure 6 of the drawing I have illustrated a further embodiment of my invention wherein the spiral spring 3? is secured to the undersurface of an object 38 which is designed to leap up ofi the surface upon which it is resting when the spring 31 is released. One end of the spiral spring 31 is connected to the object as at 39, while the opposite end 4%] of the the spiral spring 3'! is connected to a suction cup 4!, an attaching flange 42 being molded on the suction cup ll for the purpose of holding the end it of the spring 3? in place. The suction cup ll is illustrated as being of the molded type and has its suction surface 33 disposed opposite the under surface of the object 33.

Instead of scoring the under surface of the object 38 or scoring the surface of the suction cup air leakage is provided in this embodiment of my invention by providing a very small aperture through the body of the suction cup ii which provides an air passageway from the space between the suction cup ii and the under surface of the object 38 and the surrounding air. It will of course be understood that the diameter of the opening through the suction cup ll must be extremely small in order to permit a partial vacuum to be created in the space between the suction cup ii and the object 38 when the suction cup 5! is pressed tightly thereagainst.

From an inspection of Figure 6, it will of course be understood that the object 38 is thrown substantially directly upwardly by the spiral spring 3? when the suction cup M releases itself. To energize or load the spring, it is simply necessary to depress the spiral spring, thus causing a compression of the same, until the suction cup 4| makes a time-delay release engagement with the suction cup in this case making an engagement with the surface upon which the spring 45 and plate 41 rest. Upon release of the suction cup 46 the center of the spring 45 snaps upwardly, causing the plate 47 to be thrown directly."

upwardly in the air. The normal position'of the spring 45 is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7.

In Figure 8 of the drawing I have shown how a molded suction cup 46 of the type shown in Figure 7 may be scored as at 48 along its bottom edge to decrease the time-delay period. This scoring 48 of the molded suction cup 46 decreases the length of time which the suction cup 46 will grip the surface it has been pressed down against, for the same reasons as have been described in connection with the scoring 24 of the suction cup 20 of Figure 3.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have illustrated the novel method of making the suction cup which has been illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and of the drawing. The only form of suction cup that I am aware of in the prior art is a molded suction cup. One of the novel features of the present invention is the provision of a suction cup by simply taking a flat piece of rubber 49 such, for example, as a rubber disk or rubber washer and then riveting the same to the object to which the suction cup is to be attached and by which it is to be carried. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the rubber disk 49 is riveted to a strip of spring steel orother re silient stock 50 by means of a rivet 5!. The act of riveting the rubber disk 49 to the metal strip 50 pulls down the center of the disk and tends to distort the disk 49 into a frusto-conical member. Due to the fact that the center of the rubber disk is pulled down by the rivet 5i as it is riveted to the strip to, an extremely satisfactory suction cup is provided in a simple and economical manner. A suction cup of this character has been illustrated in Figures l to 5, inclusive, of the draw- From the above description it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple time-delay spring release mechanism which is peculiarly suited for use on spring-impelled novelties and other objects. It will also be understood from the above description that I have provided a new and novel type of suction cup and method of making the same which is economical to manufacture and template by the appended claims to cover all such I modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention: i 1. A novelty having a spring to impart motio thereto, and a suction cup secured to the free end of said spring and engageable with a portion of said novelty to retain said spring in a loaded position for a predetermined length of time after it is set.

2. An object adapted'to be thrown upwardly by a spring secured to the underside thereof, and means for temporarily holding said spring when said spring is loaded, said means including a suction cup carried by the free end of said spring.

3. An object adapted to be thrown upwardly by a spring secured to the underside thereof, and means for temporarily holding said spring when said spring is loaded, said means including a shetion cup carried by the free end of said spring and engageable with said object.

1-. A substantially rigid and non-collapsible member having on its underside a spring adapted when released to impart motion to said member, and means on the underside of said member including a suction cup for holding said spring in a cocked position, said underside being formed with a substantially smooth surface and said suction cup being in use substantially covered by said member and engageable with said substantially smooth surface of said member by the mere pressing of said member bodily against a support.

5. A novelty comprising an inner membenan outer shell having a large opening in its base; said inner member being recessed opposite said opening in said shell, a spring-impelling member secured to said inner member within said recess and arranged when released to project outwardly throughsaid opening in said shell, and means for I temporarily retaining said spring in a loaded'position within said shell.

6. A novelty comprising an inner member, an

outer shell having a large opening in its base, said inner member being recessed opposite said base, a

spring-impelling member secured to said inner member within said recess and arranged Whenreleased to project outwardly through said opening in said shell, and a suction cup mounted on said spring and engageable with said inner member for temporarily retaining said spring in a loaded position within said shell, the sealing engagement between said suction cup and said inner member being such as to permit air leakage into the confined space therebetween.

7. In a jumping novelty structure having resilient means adapted to support the weight of said structure and to be pressed forcibly against a portion of said structure so as to place said means under tension whereby upon release said structure is projected bodily upward from a given supporting surface, means for holding said resili- 1 entmeans in said tensioned condition for ashort time comprising a generally smooth plate on the underside of said structure and a rubber suction cup carried by said resilient means and engageable with said plate underneath said structure when said resilient means is placed under tension, the operation of said holding'means being independent of the nature of the surface upon which the structure is placed and said holding means being adapted to be set into operation with said resilient means stressed before said structure is placed upon the surface from which said structure is to be projected bodily upward.

SOREN S. ADAMS. 

